Tips
Tips
Software design and development
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The 7 stages of the SDLC explained
The development process can be broken into seven distinct phases that transform high-level plans into production-ready software. Learn how to approach each phase of the SDLC. Continue Reading
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Learn the phases of feature-driven development
Learn how development teams can use the five phases of feature-driven development to put Agile principles into practice by structuring projects around app functionality. Continue Reading
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How to apply impact mapping to software with examples
Impact mapping can reduce scope creep and enable flexibility in the SDLC by creating a shared understanding among all stakeholders. Learn how to apply it to software projects. Continue Reading
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Testing generative AI apps
With generative AI apps rising in popularity, QA professionals should be aware of their unique failure modes. Learn what testers need to consider when handling these tools. Continue Reading
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Applying Kanban principles to software development
Kanban was conceptualized in manufacturing and later adopted by software development teams, alongside other methodologies, such as Lean and Scrum. Learn to apply Kanban principles. Continue Reading
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Create an open source security policy for your organization
Using open source software raises concerns about security and intellectual property. Here's how to make sound decisions and avoid situations you'll regret. Continue Reading
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Conduct load tests with JMeter on Kubernetes
Apache JMeter and other load-testing tools can be used with Kubernetes to conduct stress tests to see how well an app performs in specific scenarios. Continue Reading
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How to set up Python coding standards for a dev team
Python team leaders have two challenges when it comes to code standards: creating a style guide and getting developers to stick to it. Continue Reading
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6 green coding best practices and how to get started
Software developers can support sustainability efforts via a range of green coding tactics. These best practices range from shrinking artifacts to maximizing efficiency. Continue Reading
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Compare Ansible vs. Docker use cases and combinations
Ansible and Docker play particular roles. Used together, Ansible's playbooks and Docker's Dockerfiles provide greater control and configurability over servers. Continue Reading
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Best practices for automated end-to-end testing
Advanced end-to-end testing can save a company time and money, but it isn't easy to implement. Let's look at some of the important elements of test design. Continue Reading
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Is a continuous planning process in DevOps worth it?
Is a continuous planning strategy right for your organization's DevOps efforts? Know the practical benefits and challenges, as well as how to improve development efficiencies. Continue Reading
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Collaborative coding basics and best practices
Successful collaborative coding includes teamwide situational awareness, highly effective communication, strong project management practices and strict version control. Continue Reading
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Code comment best practices every developer should know
Source code can benefit from well-written code comments. If teams implement proper writing strategies, code comments can be a great tool to explain code intent. Continue Reading
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6 alternatives to Heroku's defunct free service tiers
Though the end of Heroku's free-tier services has left many developers and software teams in the cold, a flock of cloud platform providers seem determined to fill the void. Continue Reading
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How to validate a Kubernetes manifest
Dev teams must validate Kubernetes manifests. Developers can navigate validation and issues that arise with the help of native and third-party tools and other coding methods. Continue Reading
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Tools and techniques to test Kubernetes objects
Kubernetes manifests and objects represent the baseline of code development on the platform. Here's why and how to test these integral elements of Kubernetes. Continue Reading
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Best practices for low-code integration within dev pipelines
When a nontechnical team leads the charge on application development, it still falls to developers and testers to integrate low-code tools and apps into the pipeline. Continue Reading
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4 low-code best practices to streamline adoption
To be successful with low-code adoption, organizations must clearly define project goals, ensure the right mix of staffing and tools, and regularly asses business value. Continue Reading
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Understanding code smells and how refactoring can help
Code smells can be the canary in the coal mine for poor coding. And poor coding is a sign that refactoring is called for. Let's explore how to look at and deodorize code smells. Continue Reading
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Static and dynamic code analysis: Complementary techniques
While every programmer wants to deliver high-performing, secure, bug-free and compliant code on the first try, that's not possible. Effective code analysis techniques will help. Continue Reading
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Quality engineering vs. quality assurance: Know the differences
Any dev team serious about improving software quality should study the quality engineering vs. quality assurance debate. Let's review the two practices' differences and overlap. Continue Reading
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An introduction to TDD benefits, risks and examples
Programmers, looking to implement -- or improve -- your team's TDD practices? Review the fundamentals and examples below to remember how TDD can be a benefit and not a burden. Continue Reading
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How to manage and maintain automated UI tests
Examine how teams can navigate the obstacles associated with automated UI tests -- including maintenance, debugging, change management and business logic challenges. Continue Reading
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5 ways to write maintainable automation code
Development teams can ensure the automation code they write is maintainable if they're careful about their tooling and the processes they adhere to. Consider the five rules below. Continue Reading
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4 UX analysis methods that ensure optimal user experiences
UX analysis ensures users will have smooth experiences. Use these four methods to analyze a UX. Learn what each method entails, when to deploy them and who performs each analysis. Continue Reading
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Overview of the problems automatic code generation can solve
Explore the ins and outs, pros and cons, and dos and don'ts of automatic code generation. Continue Reading
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A closer look at 6 popular low-code development platforms
Low-code development tools help organizations accomplish tasks from simple forms and web sites to app integrations and BPM. Here's a closer look at six of the top low-code tools. Continue Reading
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Review these 9 low-code use cases and industry examples
Don't get hung up on the basics of low-code and your development teams' makeup. Evaluate the following use cases to see if low-code makes sense for your project goals. Continue Reading
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How low-code development accelerates digital transformation
Enterprises that don't embrace digital transformation invite competitors to carve up their business. Here's how low-code development can help a business become digitally adept. Continue Reading
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A practical take on low-code vs. traditional development
Sometimes the lines blur between low-code versus traditional development. Compare the pros and cons of each approach to judge which makes sense for your application needs. Continue Reading
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How to plan unit test coverage
Explore what an effective unit testing strategy looks like, whether it's wise to aim for a certain percentage of test coverage and how much unit testing is enough. Continue Reading
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Waterfall or Agile? Predictive vs. adaptive SDLC explained
Waterfall and Agile epitomize the differences between predictive and adaptive SDLCs. Here are some considerations that a dev team should know before it chooses a methodology. Continue Reading
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How to make remote pair programming work
Two heads are better than one when you're writing software code. Learn how to get those two developers working together from separate locations in a remote pair programming session. Continue Reading
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How static and dynamic code analysis boost app security
Catch security vulnerabilities before they catch up to you. Here's how static and dynamic source code analysis help address application concerns, and the difference between the approaches. Continue Reading
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Learn how to perform TDD with a simple example
Fizz, buzz -- no, it isn't cocktail hour, although we don't mind if you pour one. It's time to learn test-driven development with a simple example. Continue Reading
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23 software development metrics to track today
High-performance, engaging, secure apps don't happen by accident. Measure these KPIs to improve the software development process and software quality. Continue Reading
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How to work with custom low-code application components
No- and low-code development platforms meet more enterprise app needs when they're customized. However, custom work can mean just as much programming as before you bought the tool. Continue Reading
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Follow this Dockerfile tutorial to create a dev environment
Containers can help establish consistent dev environments. In this step-by-step tutorial, learn how to write a Dockerfile and run containerized applications. Continue Reading
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How to perform effective code reviews -- in less time
Waiting for code reviews can feel like watching paint dry. Break the bad habit of slow code reviews with these organizational changes -- just remember it takes time to save time. Continue Reading
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Fix spaghetti code and other pasta-theory antipatterns
Developers must try to write maintainable, reusable code. That's easier said than done. Learn about programming antipatterns espoused in the pasta theory, and don't forget a napkin. Continue Reading
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How developers focus despite open offices, concurrent projects
What do shared meeting calendars, pink sombreros and home offices have in common? They're all ways to combat distractions and let programmers focus on productive coding. Continue Reading
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10 tips on when to refactor code
Developers only have so much time available. Here's how to prioritize code refactoring so you get the most value from the least amount of effort. Continue Reading
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TDD vs. BDD vs. ATDD and other Agile development techniques
Agile development doesn't always start with, well, development. Put tests before coding in TDD, BDD and other Agile techniques to minimize waste and focus on the user. Continue Reading
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The future of UX research: Measure the unquantifiable
Applications capture more information than ever about their users, from heart rate to tone of voice. Prepare for a connected software future with qualitative UX measurements. Continue Reading
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Why projects fail in the citizen developer model
It's easy for citizen developers to start a software project, but difficult to augment or maintain it. Watch out for these four issues that ruin most no-code projects. Continue Reading
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Real-world developers' low-code examples focus on productivity
Two enterprise IT organizations share the benefits their dev teams gained from different low-code platforms, the process issues the tools exposed and how teams can get started. Continue Reading
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The 6 IDE features to use for tool selection
The best IDE for a project depends on the languages programmers use, how the platform integrates with code repositories and other tools, and many other factors. Continue Reading
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How to train junior developers in 5 steps
Junior developers thrive on trust and training -- even if you're wary of the former and have little time for the latter. Here's how to get inexperienced programmers tuned up fast. Continue Reading
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What to look for in code review tools
Code review gums up the Agile, iterative works. Assisted and automated code review tools improve quality, and there's a mix of products out there for different workflows and needs. Continue Reading
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Assess low-code platform pros and cons
Some see low-code platforms as intuitive and time-saving, but security and compliance concerns could negate those benefits. See where low-code tools stand with these pros and cons. Continue Reading
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Low-code platforms face off: Mendix vs. OutSystems
Low-code products target different audiences. So, will traditional or citizen developers use low-code platforms more in the future? We pit Mendix vs. OutSystems to explore each approach. Continue Reading
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4 vital UX testing methods for concept through development
Don't rely on a single UX test, and don't create an overloaded bottleneck that delays development. Instead, deploy these four UX assessments iteratively and often. Continue Reading
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Working with Git branches and repositories
With a grasp of just a few basic concepts and commands, developers can use Git's branching capability for feature development and experimentation, testing before release and more. Continue Reading
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How to become a UX designer with your QA background
If you're a tester, a switch to a UX role is fairly simple. A range of UX design skills are just a matter of evaluating user needs before developers build the app code -- not after. Continue Reading
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Discern these open source license terms to avoid legal snags
Fluent in Ruby but at a loss in legalese? Open source licenses obligate developers to observe specific conditions, so you must know these terms. Let's break them down in plain English. Continue Reading
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5 common open source software licenses you need to know
Everyone likes getting credit, but not everyone remembers to give it. Learn what conditions open source licenses impose, such as copyright notices and redistribution rules. Continue Reading
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How to use Web Components with UI design tools
What are Web Components and how can you best make use of them? Here's how the set of web APIs helps designers create and customize reusable modules for web apps and user interfaces. Continue Reading
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Learn which low-code techniques fit which projects
There's an ideal time and purpose for low- and no-code development tools. And among those platforms there are various modus operandi, each apt for different apps. Continue Reading
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What to expect from AI in app development tools
If an IDE or test suite could truly do it all, would you want it to? See how AI is evolving in app development tools, from assists and prompts to full-scale code generation. Continue Reading
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5 factors for using open source code in proprietary software
To make the best use of the vast and varied pool of open source software available, developers must be astute about what can actually best serve a project. Continue Reading
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How low-code governance helps IT protect data, limit sprawl
Low-code app developers must adhere to policies that govern data and resource usage. Lacking governance puts budgets, security and compliance at risk. Continue Reading
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Select between distributed version control systems and tools
Before you branch out with a new version control tool, assess the pros and cons of these different options, and make sure to ask for developers' opinions. Continue Reading
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Make application usability a priority -- wherever testing occurs
Testers don't have time to fully evaluate apps before deployment. But poor-quality code simply isn't an option. Enter shift right and APM, two tasks testers must be ready to accept. Continue Reading
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Secure open source components to bypass breaches
As enterprises increasingly turn to open source code to cut dev efforts and costs, IT industry vendors recommend that they secure dependencies and deploy patches to safeguard apps. Continue Reading
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Undertake software dependency management to reduce conflicts
Apps can bind to dependencies with various levels of interconnectedness -- sometimes to deleterious effect. Here's how to approach software dependency management and reduction. Continue Reading
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GitOps, event handling will shape DevOps evolution
DevOps is all about swift application deployment, and faster methods can arrive over time. Tom Nolle explains two concepts that will spark DevOps' continued evolution. Continue Reading
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Prioritize UX in a serverless mobile app framework
There's no universal approach to incorporate serverless functionality into mobile app development. Cloud tools and serverless elements can complicate a deployment. Continue Reading
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Pick up stateless software precepts for modern app design
Change and state are complex interrelated concepts that shape how an application performs its tasks. Learn the meaning of state, mutability and change as they relate to app design. Continue Reading
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Low-code tools showdown: PowerApps vs. Appian
Low-code dev products, such as PowerApps and Appian, come with benefits and tradeoffs. See which option comes out on top in this faceoff, and plan your workflow accordingly. Continue Reading
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The developer's crash course to the application network
Developers, we get it; you don't want to deal with the network. But hear us out, as a basic understanding of subnets, VPNs and IP addresses boost app stability and performance. Continue Reading
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Sustain high quality in low-code app development
Organizations can keep their standards high and their programming low if they follow these guidelines for a low-code, model-driven approach to software development. Continue Reading
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Break app infrastructure responsibly with chaos engineering
More enterprises are intentionally breaking applications with chaos engineering. It helps developers learn the causes of software failures and how to build better apps. Continue Reading
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Which app is apt: native app vs. hybrid app?
Developers have to know what type of application best fits them. Learn about native applications and hybrid applications to decide what works for your enterprise. Continue Reading
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Testing tools for continuous deployment
Continuous testing and integration are the basis for continuous deployment without disasters. Expert Tom Nolle discusses the steps for automated and regression tests. Continue Reading
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Jenkins basics: The DevOps and build platform for dev teams
Software expert Walker Rowe discusses how Jenkins goes beyond a DevOps tool. Get a better understanding of how and why your enterprise should install Jenkins. Continue Reading
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A DevOps beginner's guide for user experience professionals
If you're a UX pro brand-new to DevOps, you might wonder where to begin. UX columnist Jason Grant offers a step-by-step approach for designers who are DevOps newbies. Continue Reading
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How to develop a UX workflow
This approach to UX improves software design, whether your goal is to build a new product, modernize a legacy one or improve functionality and features. Continue Reading
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Testers face pressure to improve software technical skills
If you want to stand out from the testing crowd, spend some time acquiring technical skills. Expert Matthew Heusser offers an on-point tester training curriculum. Continue Reading
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SaaS application testing: Keep performance tests in mind
Performance testing must be a high priority for SaaS application testers. Learn why and pick up tips on how to test a SaaS system's performance. Continue Reading
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Software development bugs: How to identify and prevent them
With strong Agile practices such as unit testing, code reviews and proper attention to requirements, bugs can be prevented or found early in the application lifecycle. Continue Reading
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Managing change requests to your application
In this tip, we look at end user requests, and the process to prioritize the requests for IT, so they know where to focus their work efforts. Continue Reading
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Application security: Protecting application availability, data confidentiality and integrity
Network security and application security are both important in keeping your applications safe from hackers. In this tip, security engineer John Overbaugh focuses on application security, which is needed to protect the confidentiality, availability ... Continue Reading
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Waterfall vs. Agile development: A case study
Two projects very similar in scope were executed by the same project team for the same users. The first project used a waterfall methodology and resulted in missed deadlines and failure to deliver user requirements. The second used an Agile ... Continue Reading